| Osme�a was born in Dao, Batangas to Cebu Chinese tycoon Don Pedro Lee Singson Gotiaoco (d. 1921)[1] and Juana Osme�a y Suico (1864 � 1941), who was reportedly only 14 years of age when she gave birth to him. Owing to the circumstances of his birth, the identity of his father had been a closely guarded family secret. Although carrying the stigma of being an illegitimate child � Juana never married his father � he didn't allow this aspect to affect his standing in society. The Osme�a family, a rich and prominent clan of Chinese Filipino heritage with vast business interests in Cebu, warmed to him as he established himself as a prominent figure in local society.[2]
Osme�a received his elementary education at the Colegio de San Carlos and graduated in 1892. Osme�a continued his education in Manila, studying in San Juan de Letran College where he first met Manuel L. Quezon, a classmate of his, as well as Juan Sumulong and Emilio Jacinto. He took up law at the University of Santo Tomas and was second place in the bar examination in 1903. He served on the war staff of General Emilio Aguinaldoas a courier and journalist. In 1900, he founded the Cebu newspaper, El Nuevo D�a which lasted for three years.
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While governor, he ran for election to the first National Assembly of 1907 and was elected as the first Speaker of that body. Osme�a was 29 years old and already the highest-ranking Filipino official. He and another provincial politician, Manuel L. Quezon of Tayabas, set up the Nacionalista Party as a foil to the Partido Federalista of Manila-based politicians. In his first years as Speaker, he was plagued with organizational burdens as the National Assembly is still organizing. The Members of the Assembly sought to establish legislative procedures which were constantly rejected by the American superiors because they still perceive that Filipinos are incapable to be independent. Three important bills from the Assembly were rejected by the Philippine Commission:
1.the repeal of the Sedition law which imposed penalties on any Filipino who advocated independence;
2.the repeal of the Flag law which banned display of the Filipino flag;
3.the grant of more powers to the local governments.
However, it did not stopped him to preside over important legislations the Assembly has passed. The creation of the Council of State and the Board of Control enabled the Philippine legislature to share some of the executive powers of the American Governor-General.
In 1916, the Jones Law was passed replacing the Philippine Commission with a Philippine Senate.
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